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BackgroundDiabetes and obesity have become epidemics and costly chronic diseases. The impact of mobile health (mHealth) interventions on diabetes and obesity management is promising; however, studies showed varied results in the efficacy of mHealth interventions. ObjectiveThis review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of mHealth interventions for diabetes and obesity treatment and management on the basis of evidence reported in reviews and meta-analyses and to provide recommendations for future interventions and research. MethodsWe systematically searched the PubMed, IEEE Xplore Digital Library, and Cochrane databases for systematic reviews published between January 1, 2005, and October 1, 2019. We analyzed 17 reviews, which assessed 55,604 original intervention studies, that met the inclusion criteria. Of those, 6 reviews were included in our meta-analysis. ResultsThe reviews primarily focused on the use of mobile apps and text messaging and the self-monitoring and management function of mHealth programs in patients with diabetes and obesity. All reviews examined changes in biomarkers, and some reviews assessed treatment adherence (n=7) and health behaviors (n=9). Although the effectiveness of mHealth interventions varied widely by study, all reviews concluded that mHealth was a feasible option and had the potential for improving patient health when compared with standard care, especially for glycemic control (−0.3% to −0.5% greater reduction in hemoglobin A1c) and weight reduction (−1.0 kg to −2.4 kg body weight). Overall, the existing 6 meta-analysis studies showed pooled favorable effects of these mHealth interventions (−0.79, 95% CI −1.17 to −0.42; I2=90.5). ConclusionsmHealth interventions are promising, but there is limited evidence about their effectiveness in glycemic control and weight reduction. Future research to develop evidence-based mHealth strategies should use valid measures and rigorous study designs. To enhance the effectiveness of mHealth interventions, future studies are warranted for the optimal formats and the frequency of contacting patients, better tailoring of messages, and enhancing usability, which places a greater emphasis on maintaining effectiveness over time.

Spatial lifecourse epidemiology is an interdisciplinary field that utilizes advanced spatial, location-based, and artificial intelligence technologies to investigate the long-term effects of environmental, behavioural, psychosocial, and biological factors on health-related states and events and the underlying mechanisms. With the growing number of studies reporting findings from this field and the critical need for public health and policy decisions to be based on the strongest science possible, transparency and clarity in reporting in spatial lifecourse epidemiologic studies is essential. A task force supported by the International Initiative on Spatial Lifecourse Epidemiology (ISLE) identified a need for guidance in this area and developed a Spatial Lifecourse Epidemiology Reporting Standards (ISLE-ReSt) Statement. The aim is to provide a checklist of recommendations to improve and make more consistent reporting of spatial lifecourse epidemiologic studies. The STrengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) Statement for cohort studies was identified as an appropriate starting point to provide initial items to consider for inclusion. Reporting standards for spatial data and methods were then integrated to form a single comprehensive checklist of reporting recommendations. The strength of our approach has been our international and multidisciplinary team of content experts and contributors who represent a wide range of relevant scientific conventions, and our adherence to international norms for the development of reporting guidelines. As spatial, location-based, and artificial intelligence technologies used in spatial lifecourse epidemiology continue to evolve at a rapid pace, it will be necessary to revisit and adapt the ISLE-ReSt at least every 2-3 years from its release.

The International Initiative on Spatial Lifecourse Epidemiology (ISLE) convened its first International Symposium on Lifecourse Epidemiology and Spatial Science at the Lorentz Center in Leiden, Netherlands, 16–20 July 2018. Its aim was to further an emerging transdisciplinary field: Spatial Lifecourse Epidemiology. This field draws from a broad perspective of scientific disciplines including lifecourse epidemiology, environmental epidemiology, community health, spatial science, health geography, biostatistics, spatial statistics, environmental science, climate change, exposure science, health economics, evidence-based public health, and landscape ecology. The participants, spanning 30 institutions in 10 countries, sought to identify the key issues and research priorities in spatial lifecourse epidemiology. The results published here are a synthesis of the top 10 list that emerged out of the discussion by a panel of leading experts, reflecting a set of grand challenges for spatial lifecourse epidemiology in the coming years. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP4868.

Objective: Obesity has become a major public health problem worldwide and particularly in China. This study examined the secular trend of overweight and obesity in China over the past 100 years. Methods: Nationwide data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey and the Chinese General Social Survey were used. A generalized binary mixed‐effects model and a weighted quantile sum model were applied. Results: From 1909 to 2021, the prevalence of overweight and obesity remained stable from 1909 to 1944, experienced a smooth increase from 1945 to 1959 followed by a decline between 1960 and 1974, continued to rise after 1975, and peaked in 2003. The prevalence of overweight (obesity) among Chinese adults increased by 2.68 (6.21) times, from 20.65% (3.10%) in 1993 to 55.33% (19.26%) in 2021, and cohorts born during the Chinese Cultural Revolution (1960–1974) exhibited the lowest risk of overweight and obesity, associated with low protein intake and high physical activity. Cohorts born during the Reform and Opening‐Up period (1975–2003) showed a high risk of overweight and obesity related to favorable socioeconomic status and rapid urbanization. Persistent differences by sex and emerging differences by socioeconomic status in overweight and obesity prevalence were captured. Conclusions: Overweight and obesity trends in China have shown a distinctive increasing–decreasing–increasing pattern over the past 100 years. These patterns exhibit unique characteristics and are influenced by discernible social forces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on obesity and risk factors from a life-course perspective among residents in the Tibet Plateau with recent economic growth and increasing obesity are important and urgently needed. The birth cohort in this area provides a unique opportunity to examine the association between maternal dietary practice and neonatal obesity. The study aims to detect the prevalence of obesity among neonates, associated with maternal diet and other factors, supporting life-course strategies for obesity control. A cohort of pregnant women was enrolled in Tibet Plateau and followed till childbirth. Dietary practice during pregnancy was assessed using the Chinese FFQ – Tibet Plateau version, food items and other variables were associated with the risk for obesity of neonates followed by logistic regression, classification and regression trees (CART) and random forest. Of the total 1226 mother–neonate pairs, 40·5 % were Tibetan and 5·4 % of neonates with obesity. Consuming fruits as a protective factor for obesity of neonates with OR (95 % CI) = 0·61 (0·43, 0·87) from logistic regression; as well as OR = 0·20 (0·12, 0·35) for consuming fruits (≥ weekly) from CART. Removing fruit consumption to avoid overshadowing effects of other factors, the following were influential from CART: maternal education (more than middle school, OR = 0·22 (0·13, 0·37)) and consumption of Tibetan food (daily, OR = 3·44 (2·08, 5·69). Obesity among neonates is prevalent in the study population. Promoting healthy diets during pregnancy and strengthening maternal education should be part of the life-course strategies for obesity control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to examine the association between weight loss, dietary patterns, diabetes, and glycemic control among Qatari adults with a history of bariatric surgery (BS). Data from 1893 adults from the Qatar Biobank study were analyzed. Diabetes was defined by blood glucose, HbA1c, and medical history, with poor glycemic control defined as HbA1c ≥ 7.0%. The dietary patterns were derived from a Food Frequency Questionnaire using factor analysis. The participants' mean age was 38.8 years, with a mean weight loss of 23.4% and a 6.1% prevalence of poor glycemic control. Weight loss was inversely associated with diabetes and poor glycemic control. The traditional dietary pattern (high intake of Biryani, chicken, meat, fish dishes, zaatar fatayer, croissant, lasagna, and Arabic bread) was inversely associated with diabetes prevalence, with an OR of 0.61 (95%CI, 0.41–0.99) when comparing extreme quartiles. No significant associations were found between prudent or sweet dietary patterns and diabetes. Among the individuals with known diabetes, the prevalence of remission was 33.4%, with an OR for remission of 5.94 (95%CI, 1.89–18.69) for the extreme quartiles of weight loss. In conclusion, weight loss and traditional dietary patterns are inversely associated with diabetes and glycemic control among adults with a history of BS, with weight loss being the main determinant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food allergy has caused lots of global public health issues, particularly in developed countries. Presently, gut microbiota has been widely studied on allergy, while the role of dysbiosis in food allergy remains unknown. Scientists found that changes in gut microbial compositions and functions are strongly associated with a dramatic increase in the prevalence of food allergy. Altering microbial composition is crucial in modulating food antigens' immunogenicity. Thus, the potential roles of probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics in affecting gut bacteria communities and the immune system, as innovative strategies against food allergy, begins to attract high attention of scientists. This review briefly summarized the mechanisms of food allergy and discussed the role of the gut microbiota and the use of probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics as novel therapies for the prevention and treatment of food allergy. The perspective studies on the development of novel immunotherapy in food allergy were also described. A better understanding of these mechanisms will facilitate the development of preventive and therapeutic strategies for food allergy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]